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Tunisia Deploys 100,000 Security Personnel

Tunisia's government said it has deployed 100,000 security personnel to protect the country and prevent new attacks, including 3,000 dedicated to protecting beaches, hotels and archeological sites.

The government is smarting from the British government's decision this week to urge tourists to leave the North African country because of security fears, AP reported.

Most of those killed in a June 26 attack by an extremist on a beach resort were British tourists.

Government minister Kamel Jendoubi told reporters in Tunis on Saturday that his country understands the British move but regrets it too. He said the number of security officers at tourist sites was doubled to 3,000 and more than 100,000 personnel from the police, national guard, civil protection agency and army "are now involved in the government's overall security efforts."

British airlines are expected to fly more than 2,000 people home over the weekend. Extra flights are being laid on across the weekend to evacuate thousands of British package holidaymakers and hundreds of independent travelers.

Saturday's flights were landing at Gatwick, Bristol, Stansted and Manchester. Britain's Foreign Office estimates there are now between 1,000 and 2,000 Britons left in Tunisia. On Friday, the figure stood at between 3,000 and 3,500.